Wichita eagle., 1887-02-25
CRAWFORD OPERA HOUSE.

II. NJ. CRAWFORD anu us RIculCecC, OeO. II
Masters, are in the city, to begin active
building operations, and they intend tc
have the building under way just as soon al
the weather will permit.
Mr. Masters showed the revised plans to
the reporter and explained them in full, and
we are assured that the building when finish.
ed will be the most complete and handsonl.
est theatre west of st. Louis, and will con-
tain all the modern improvem ents and con-
veniences which money and experience can
produce.
1t will be built from stone, brick and iron
tremendously mingled together to produce
an exterior which will be pleasing to the
eye and an ornament to our growing
city of which we may be proud. The front
on Topeka avenue will be massive and very
noticeable with its large two-story windows,
its round, projecting miniture tower; its
large gable, all of which can be better seen
when built than described or imagined now.
Mr.. Masters says we will have many fea-
lures about the house which will far surpass
those in any other theatre in the country
and he is making special eff ort to give the
Queen City 1.-THE opera house, of the west.
allowing Wichita to stand at the head in
A general description of the building is as
follows:
The theatre will have a frontage on To-
peka avenue of 60 feet and on Williams of
$40 feet and the extreme heighth will be rs
feet above sidewalk.
The auditorium is reached from Topeka
avenue through a grand entrance IS feet
wide and 81 feet deep. This entrance will
have all inclined floor Of encaustic tile, while
the walls and ceiling will be richly frescoed
in modern style and Lighted by incandesent
lights From this entrance we pass into a
broad corridor, at each end starts a broad
stairway to balcony. The side Of corridor
next to auditorium will be full Of opening
covered with rich portiers and the entire
walls and ceiling will be brilliantly frescoed.
The auditorium will be oval in shape, with
curtain opening SO feet wide and % feet
high The proscenium will have two boxer
on the first floor and one on the balcony Oh
each side and this part of the house will be
highly ornamental in design and the decora-
ton is to be very unique and rich in treat
meut The boxes viii have curta ms and
lambrequins in keeping with the rest of the
work
There will be par9uet to seat 500, balco-
nv to seat $50 and gallery TO seat 600 Each
,,art of the house will have separate en-
frances and exits, so arranged that the
house can be einptied in Ave minutes In case
of panic.
Parouette will he seated with the latest
improved opera chairs upholstered in plush
Balcony will have similar seats upholstered
in leather. Gallery will have good seats
All parts and SEATS will be so placed that
each person can have a clear view OF the
stage and play Every EFFORT will be made
To have perfect acoustics and ventilation,
and both Messrs Masters and Crawford
promise to do everything possible to make
this house a near perfec; as possible. The
stage will have very complete set Of seen
cries and everything 10 allow any play Of
modern times to be produced The size OF
this house and stage viii be larger than two
thirds of the theatres IN Chicago